We admit the headline over this week’s column might be a tad on the sensational side, but it is also true.

Tambor Williams, selected by Republican Party gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes this week to be his running mate, is indeed a former Democrat and at one time was a member of the more politically liberal Trial Lawyers Association in Colorado.

And state Sen. Ted Harvey? Throw him into the mix, as well! He’s who Tom Tancredo was pushing to replace Maes in his latest offer.

But you’ll have to read through this column before we divulge all the particulars. Hopefully that won’t be too much of a strain, as we’re still staying with the subject of the governor’s race. And is this not an entertaining topic, or what! Anyone with even a sliver of a sense of humor has to be chuckling over the latest developments on the Republican side.

Either that or crying.

I’m sure, for instance, that GOP State Chairman Dick Wadhams isn’t necessarily grinning from ear to ear with the cheery prospects of his party taking over the governor’s office after the November elections. He’s probably tearing up whenever he ponders what might have been a few short months ago. You remember, when likely GOP nominee Scott McInnis hadn’t yet been outed as a plagiarist and was even ahead of Democrat John Hickenlooper in some of the polls.

But that was then, and this is now. Maes is the duly elected Republican Party nominee for governor, and not even a second offer proffered this week by American Constitution Party candidate Tom Tancredo for both of them to withdraw from the race got any serious consideration.

Actually, as we now know from a press release this week from Wadhams, he himself was the go-between for Tancredo’s proposal that would have the former congressman and nominee Maes dropping out of the race so the GOP could annoint — excuse me, appoint — a more formidable candidate to square off against Hickenlooper in the general election.

“I felt it was my responsibility as state chairman to inform Dan of this offer since it held open the possibility of eliminating the current three-way race that gives the Democratic candidate a huge advantage,” Wadhams explained in his release.

“Dan indicated he would remain in the race. I respect and appreciate both Tom’s offer and Dan’s response. I continue to support Dan Maes for governor of Colorado,” Wadhams said.

Well, give credit to Wadhams for agreeing to support the nominee of his own political party, and also to serve as the emissary to Maes. But did he really expect a different response from Maes?

On primary election night, we asked Maes ourselves whether he might be enticed to drop out of the governor’s race for any possible reason.

No, Maes said clearly.

We pushed it.

What, for example, if someone offered him a high-paying job in exchange for dropping out of the race? It’s been reported, afterall, that he has made less money some years than the federal poverty level figure. Would he consider?

No, Maes responded. “That would be called a bribe, I believe. And I think the salary for governor is just fine.”

We can’t say we were surprised in the least that Maes shunned the latest Tancredo-via-Wadhams proposal.

And what, exactly, were the details of this most recent offer by Tancredo? Were he and Maes just supposed to slink away and allow a vacancy committee to select a candidate? What would Tancredo get out of it? What incentive was there for Maes to withdraw?

And come to think of it, after that now infamous and explosive blow-up between Wadhams and Tancredo a few weeks ago on the Caplis & Silverman radio show, we were wondering how Wadhams and Tancredo ever got back to the point of talking to each other, nevermind hatching out some new deal.

Well, lucky us. Just as we were about to go to press on Thursday, the “Tanc” himself poked his head into The Statesman office and was in a chatty, if somewhat rushed, mode. But if he thought he would escape without filling us in on the latest goings-on, he should have known better.

We fired away. He answered.

“I know Dick, God love him, I don’t fault him. When he calls me the day before yesterday he tells me he’s talked to Maes and he’s not going to get out.

“Before that we had these —maybe five — long discussions about the whole thing which started last weekend. I had heard that Dick had had a sort of ‘Come to Jesus’ meeting with Maes on Thursday and said to him, you can’t win this thing, you got no money, the RGA is walking away. And so I thought well, you know, let’s capitalize on that. And if the party is telling him that, then if I say by the way, if the party tells you this, I’ll get out if you get out…

“I made this offer to Dick and he liked it — a lot.

“I don’t know if he was just trying to flim flam me, maybe that was part of it, where he wanted to be involved and do this so I look weak and that sort of thing, but I guarantee you he was enthusiastic about it, at least at first.”

Tancredo continued, saying that Wadhams told him he could probably get former U.S. Senators Hank Brown and Wayne Allard aboard to support the plan.

“…I called Dick and said are you sure you talked to them, and he said he did. He says he called them and they said they would support Maes getting out.

“There were two or three things I asked for,” Tancredo revealed.

“First thing it has to be made public.

“Agreed.

“Number two, we must have some sort of veto power over who you pick to replace him. I don’t want to have just another liberal. He agreed, he did.

“We talked about who, and I came in with a name. I said Ted Harvey. That’s the guy I would pick. He said okay, I like that, I like that a lot.

“Dick said a very important big businessman had called him, he didn’t tell me who (it wasn’t real estate tycoon Dave Liniger) but he said he was fed up with all this crap going on and said he wanted to get in the race…

“So this was progressing over the weekend. Calls back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.

“And one was, I just saw that Brown and Allard have endorsed Maes. Are you telling me they’d be willing to now say to him, get out?

“Maes called them and they had to (endorse him),” Dick said.

“The next day (Dick) called me and said he was going to be subdued. I totally understand that. What was he going to say, I’m the chairman of the party and I’m telling some guy to get out who has just won the election?

“What he said was, had there been any wiggle room, then the guys (Brown and Allard) would have intervened (with Maes) and said yeah, you should do this.”

Which brings us to Tancredo himself. Is he planning on staying in the race now that Maes is still in?

“Yes maam, we’re raising money, or trying to,” he said.

“This is the hardest part. If we don’t raise enough money to be credible, then this has been a lot of effort.”

The candidate estimated it will take between $500,000 and three quarters of a million dollars to run a bare minimum campaign.

“But at least I don’t have to buy a million dollars worth of name id,” Tancredo said.

Then he returned to the subject of Maes’ candidacy for governor.

“I have a better chance of winning in a three-way than Maes does in a two-way.

“I really believe with all my heart that Dan Maes should never be the candidate. It’s not that he just can’t win — he shouldn’t win. It isn’t as if you can go, well, he’s the Republican candidate, he’s a little soft on this, a little too hard on that, whatever… he could be governor! I certainly don’t want Hickenlooper but I believe in the end that (there would be) a wipeout.

“I supported every Republican. Josh Penry. He got out. I supported Scott McInnis until all hell broke loose and everything fell apart. I have done everything the party has asked me to do in support of these candidates, but sometimes the party asks too much… Asking me to support Dan Maes is too much. I can’t do it.”

Now, about the headline that accompanies this column and our initial mention of Tambor Williams. She was a Democrat, albeit just for awhile. “There was a year in my life when my partner was running for sheriff as a Democrat,” Williams told us as she was about to begin her first term in the state House back in 1997.

“I changed parties to help him out. We lost. I’ve been a Republican all my life except for that year.”

And a member of the Colorado Trial Lawyers Association.

Yes. Also in our freshman profile of Williams, she listed the organization along with a half dozen others when asked which clubs and organizations she belonged to.

Maes doesn’t remember if Poundstone’s cash was a gift or a contribution

Hours after denying that a former supporter gave him a cash gift to help make mortgage payments, Republican gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes said he now doesn’t remember if $300 given to him by Freda Poundstone was a campaign contribution or to help with his mortgage or other family matters.

“If she wants to read more into it about that we were financially struggling, and I might even made the comment that ‘we’re tight right now, we need every contribution we can get.’ I just don’t remember the conversation that well.”

He also said that he “may have” received financial assistance during his campaign from family members.

Maes, who never reported a $300 contribution from Poundstone in campaign finance filings, has alternatively blamed a former treasurer and new software launched by the Secretary of State’s office for the “squabble.” He characterized the allegations as “annoyances and distractions” and dismissed them as a “publicity stunt” by those opposing his candidacy.

An additional campaign-finance problem for Maes could be that he says Poundstone gave him $300 cash, which would be a violation of campaign finance laws.

(10) No candidate committee, political committee, small donor committee, issue committee, or political party shall accept a contribution, or make an expenditure, in currency or coin exceeding one hundred dollars.

Poundstone is a former Maes supporter who said she voted for Scott McInnis in the Republican primary and now supports Tom Tancredo in his third-party bid for governor.

On Thursday, she told Denver Post reporter Christopher N. Osher that she gave Maes “more than $300″ because he was struggling to pay his mortgage and insisted it was gift, not a campaign contributions. She challenged Maes to take a polygraph with her to settle the issue.

Maes said Poundstone was one of many other people in his campaign who “wanted a seat at the table” and when they didn’t get it,

Republican Maes deflects ‘deceptions’

Maes, money & Primary mania

7/23/2010

story_kicker:

Maes, money & Primary mania

By Leslie Jorgensen
THE COLORADO STATESMAN

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes has often promoted himself as a successful businessman who is capable of turning around dying companies — now, his acumen is being questioned by supporters. Their concerns stem from Maes agreeing to pay a $17,500 penalty for campaign finance reporting violations, tax returns that reveal more years of struggle than success and switching positions on illegal immigration and gun rights.

Nearly two dozen supporters hand delivered a letter to the Maes campaign office on Saturday, July 17, that questioned why the candidate had reimbursed himself more than $40,000 for mileage in the past 12 months — at least 25 percent of the campaign funds. The mileage reimbursement was one of several violations cited in a complaint against Maes and his campaign committee filed by attorney Erik Groves on behalf of Christopher Klitzke of Grand Junction that was settled earlier this month.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes with his wife, Karen.

Photo by Leslie Jorgensen/The Colorado Statesman

“We’re further concerned that rather than standing up against these claims, you agreed to pay a fine of $17,500, thereby preventing a judge or the public access to your committee’s financial records and gas log,” stated the letter that the writers had published on the Complete Colorado website.

“Where is YOUR transparency?” asked the authors of the letter who reminded Maes that he’d campaigned on the compelling message of an open and transparent government. They demanded that Maes make public, at the very least, his 2009 tax return filing.

According to Maes’ campaign finance reports, the individual campaign contributions range from $30 given by Ragsdale to $500 from Claudette Campbell, both of Parker.

During the Caplis & Silverman talk radio show on KHOW Monday, Maes shrugged it off as a stunt. The candidate said one woman had bugged his campaign so much that he plans to refund her contribution so she’ll quit calling headquarters.

Maes, who called the violations “clerical errors,” said that he paid a reduced fine to avoid a legal battle that would detract from campaigning in the final weeks before the Aug. 10 primary. The candidate viewed himself as a victim of a political conspiracy to sabotage his campaign against Republican opponent Scott McInnis, former 3rd District Congressman, who recently became snarled in plagiarism charges.

On July 2, Maes urged his supporters to “stand strong!!” against the campaign finance violations complaint that he called “deception.”

The message was embraced by passionate Maes supporters — and rejected by fence sitters, some of whom began questioning the candidate’s professional history, political positions and qualifications to be governor.

After Maes agreed to pay the campaign violation fine, reduced from potentially $27,000 to $17,500, he issued a press release on July 13 that proclaimed, “Maes Campaign Finance Matter Closed — No Misuse of Funds Occurred.”

“… Groves re-approached Maes’ attorney Steve Jones with a proposal to reduce the fine amount,” stated the campaign press release that called Maes, the “Republican Designee for Governor of Colorado.”

The release said that Maes had agreed to pay fines for improperly reporting an in-kind donation, stating occupations of nine contributors and failing to disclose expenditures in a timely manner.

Not so, said Groves. The reduced fine included $8,150 and $3,000 for violations listed under the third and fourth claims that addressed undocumented expenditures, including disbursements to the candidate that appeared to be monetary advances.

“I didn’t call them, they called me to negotiate a reduced fine,” said Groves of Maes’ attorneys Ross Pulkrabek and Daniel Wartell of the Jones & Keller law firm. Had Maes contested the complaint, Groves said he would have asked to depose the candidate and others and review the campaign financial records including the mileage log.

“(Maes) labels himself as ‘Republican designee for Governor.’

“Did he win the primary already and I just didn’t get notified?” asked Groves with a laugh.

Donna Jack of Evergreen said she initially was impressed by Maes, but now questions who is deceiving who and called for “truth.” Jack is not alone.

Concerns about the complaint and Maes’ switching positions on key issues, such as illegal immigration, appeared to be addressed in a July 2 e-mail that he sent to supporters.

“The manipulation of facts, bending the truth, and blatant lies will be used to win. Words will be twisted to make you question what you have heard previously. Honest mistakes will be turned into alleged crimes,” asserted Maes on July 2.

Jen Raiffie said that she jumped off the campaign bandwagon because Maes originally said he supported amnesty for illegal immigrants and opposed the e-verify system to identify illegal workers because it was too cumbersome for businesses. Maes later reversed his positions.

“He said that he was never for amnesty… and anyone who says he did is a liar,” said Raiffe, who works for Republican former 6th District Congressman Tom Tancredo, an ardent opponent of amnesty.

Raiffe, who also writes a blog, said that was “untrue” and has continued to discuss Maes’ movement on positions with other conservatives. Perhaps that caused Maes to send a terse e-mail to Raiffe in January.

“Jen, you better have your ducks in a row moving forward. You better speak the truth. You are getting in over your head and being used. There are legal consequences for your actions if they are not truthful. You will get hung out to dry by those who you are looking to for your paycheck.

“I know how smart you are. Don’t let them use you like this. I have copied my attorney on this communication. His name is Steve Jones. If I see one erroneous report about my background, work history, etc. there will be consequences,” signed Dan Maes, “The Peoples Candidate — Re-energizing Colorado’s Economy.”

The message didn’t deter Raiffe, who with others have dispatched e-mails with links to online news articles that quote Maes on the immigration issues. His original positions have been removed from the campaign website.

This week, Maes released portions of his income tax statements filed between 2000 and 2007, through The Constitutionalist Today newspaper based in Colorado Springs. The newspaper has endorsed Maes in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

According to the monthly newspaper, Maes earned about $89,000 a year between 2000 and 2004. His income hovered at roughly $20,000 in 2005 and 2006, and increased to nearly $52,000 in 2007, a time period that corresponds to the establishment of his business, Amaesing Credit Solutions, LLC. Since March 2007, the business has been deemed “delinquent” in filing annual reports with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office.

Maes earned $11,000 in 2008, the year that he organized Advantage Credit Bureau of Colorado, LLC, which was formed by transferring 49 percent of the assets from Amaesing Credit Solutions in order to sell the credit company in January. Maes told The Colorado Statesman that he kept 51 percent of the Amaesing Credit Solutions and that a separate company, Amaesing Educational Resources, was formed but never made money.

According to Jordan Maes, the candidate’s daughter and campaign aide, The Constitutionalist Today Publisher Lana Warkocz has handled “all of the media” for the Maes campaign, including radio ads. Warkocz has contributed $540 to the Maes campaign according to the most recent filing. There was no report of an in-kind donation.

“That looks like a conflict of interest,” said Jack. “The truth will prevail.”

Maes did not return multiple calls to The Colorado Statesman for a response.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Maes whittled more than $27,000 in fines for campaign finance violations down to $17,500. The agreement was reached last Friday and entered into the court records on Monday – canceling the morning hearing before an administrative law judge.

Under the agreement, the Friends of Dan Maes for Governor committee and Maes are to pay a total of $17,500 in fines to the Secretary of State within 30 days of the Order being signed.

Last week, Maes said that his attorneys were negotiating a deal to either dismiss the complaint or significantly reduce the fines. The Evergreen businessman might have achieved one of those goals – particularly a lower fine – by appearing before the administrative law judge.

That action, however, might have required Maes to produce records of contributions and receipts to validate hefty campaign cash advances to the candidate – more than $43,000 claimed for vehicle mileage since July 2009. The candidate and others might also have been deposed.

Maes said he didn’t want to become embroiled in a lengthy legal battle before the Aug. 10 primary against Republican former 3rd District Congressman Scott McInnis.

“This is an intentional distraction. We are not hiding anything. There have not been any inappropriate reimbursements,” declared Maes. “We admit that we made a couple of clerical errors.”

Maes did not contest the violations in his campaign financial reports filed with the Colorado Secretary of State’s office in a response on Friday, July 2, from his attorneys Ross Pulkrabek and Daniel Wartell of Jones & Keller, PC. Even the reduced fine is thought to be the largest in state history.

“We didn’t want to pursue this because it would be a drain of our time and our finances,” said Maes. “We just want to move on.”

The candidate said that was the reason why he didn’t challenge the complaint which could have opened the door to a deposition that called for records of expenditures and contributions from individuals, including a high profile lobbyist.

The complaint was filed by attorney Erik Groves on behalf of Christopher Klitzke of Grand Junction in early May. Groves said that Klitzke, who is engaged to the attorney’s paralegal, is an oil field worker on the Western Slope. He is also a student in a college class taught by Groves.

“He is a good old oil field rough neck and citizen,” said Groves.

Klitzke had asked Groves about Maes’ campaign financial records and was informed that a citizen can file a complaint.

Maes described the complaint as a “manipulation of facts, bending of the truth and blatant lies” in an e-mail to key supporters on July 2. The candidate equated it to a political attack in a heated primary race.

“The greatest challenge is when the deception comes from within our own party. Some are becoming desperate and they will use many different means to attack. For us one came in the form of a civil suit from a Grand Junction man, represented by a Grand Junction attorney, who himself was litigated recently for wrong doing in the capitol,” wrote Maes.

“The suit claims we mishandled our campaign contributions and asked for financial damages… This suit is timed to be publicized in conjunction with the primary vote. It is our judgment to agree to the claims, which amount to parking tickets in the grand scheme of things,” he said.

Groves, a former lobbyist, was accused of attempting to influence a legislator in the election of a leader in the state House of Representatives in 2008. The election was cancelled because House Minority Leader Mike May withdrew his resignation and after a hearing, Groves received an advisement letter to abide by House rules of protocol.

Maes said the 2009 fourth quarter campaign finance report was filed late because the campaign’s “contracted treasurer” abruptly quit two days after it was due. A few days later, he said, Andrea Hough, a managing partner in the Denver-based Pinnacle Political Resources, sent an e-mail complaining that the campaign had not paid her for previous work in a timely manner.

Hough confirmed that she sent that e-mail in response to his request that she find someone to prepare the financial reports. She said that last summer Maes had requested her services in an emergency, but she told it him to find someone else to contract. Work that she performed in early October went unpaid until a few days before the 2009 fourth quarter report was due to be filed.

“I told him that I had two other political campaign clients and I could not take on more work,” said Hough. “I filled in temporarily as a favor. I was very upset when he told people that I had joined the campaign — that wasn’t true. We didn’t even have a contract.”

As a finance campaign manager for Republican statewide and congressional candidates now and in the past, Hough said that her job is to maintain all financial records, sign the checks, pay the bills, enter contribution checks, make bank deposits and file the financial reports.

“(Maes) kept total control of the finances. He e-mailed an Excel file of contributions but I never saw the checks. He dropped off an envelop full of receipts mostly for eating out, including Burger King, and expected me to reconcile them against an online bank statement e-mailed by his wife Karen to me. You can’t reconcile anything from that,” said Hough. “I never even saw a mileage log.”

“Those were red flags,” said Hough.

“As a campaign finance manager I have a fiduciary responsibility for the validity of the finance report. It’s a federal offense — or even felony — if anything goes wrong,” declared Hough.

She recalled meeting Maes once for a 10-minute conversation and talking twice on the phone. Maes said they talked almost daily about finances and the reports until early January when he realized that Hough was no longer in the picture.

“I called my daughter Jordan and asked her to get on the phone with the Secretary of State’s office and complete the filing within 48 hours. This 23-year-old did the finest job possible,” said Maes.

There were clerical errors, said Maes, two contributions were classified incorrectly because his daughter had listed the name of a company instead of a person.

Another issue in the complaint is the campaign’s mileage reimbursements to the candidate. Groves said the compensation did not correlate to the candidate’s event schedule published on the campaign Web site.

“According to my cursory calculations, that puts him on the road approximately eight hours a day,” said Groves. “That certainly raises suspicions.”

Maes was compensated $125 on Nov. 16, $1,000 on Nov. 17, $750 on Nov. 20 and $450 on Dec. 10. From Dec. 15 – 30, he received four payments totaling $3,100. In the first quarter of 2010, Maes received a $9,460 mileage reimbursement followed by what appear to be $5,000 advances in February, March and April. The candidate received mileage reimbursements of $4,861 in May and $1,000 and $861 in June.

“Anyone who’s watched our campaign knows the mileage we’ve logged,” declared Maes and estimated that he’s clocked 80,000 miles on his car in the past 16 months of the campaign.

The complaint also questioned duplicate compensations for rent paid to Evergreen Enterprise, LLC that the Secretary of State’s office lists as an entity represented by Barbara Wingate at 30496 Bryant Drive in Evergreen — the same address as Maes’ business registrations.

Maes said that the cited errors all arose from Hough quitting. “It is like dropping your tax information off at the CPA’s office about three days before April 15, and then finding out a couple of days later it was never filed.”

“These are clerical errors,” said Maes, who conceded that he’s been too busy campaigning to file paperwork for a couple of his businesses.

According to the Secretary of State’s office, Maes’ companies Amaesing Education Resources and Amaesing Credit Solutions are “delinquent” in filing annual reports.

He said that Amaesing Education Resources was created when he sold 51 percent of Amaesing Credit solutions, renamed Advantage Credit Bureau of Colorado LLC, to a company in North Dakota. Maes said he needs to file the reports and paperwork to close Amaesing Education Resources, a video production company that never evolved.

“These are clerical errors,” said Maes.

The publicized errors are fodder for the Republican candidate’s critics.

“For someone vying to be the chief executive of this state, the number of issues with campaign finance reports and other business irregularities certainly raise a troubling pattern of behavior,” said Groves.

Maes said that his campaign has spent less money than McInnis, has been staffed by volunteers and family and has thrived on grassroots support.

July 8: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “We are dealing with a ticking time bomb here in Devils Lake,” Senator Conrad said. “We are just a couple of heavy rains away from a possible uncontrolled overflow. That could have a devastating impact on the Lake Region and on downstream communities as well. We need to work together to avert this pending disaster.”More…

Minot Daily News: Rep. Pomeroy and Sen. Conrad held a field hearing Thursday to gather information about funding projects on N.D. Highway 23.”We’re losing loved ones friends, relatives, neighbors. Whatever amount of money we can put into Highway 23 and all of our roads south of New Town, north of New Town, any of the county, any of the township roads, anything if they can save one life it’s worth it,” Dan Uran, mayor of New Town told Sen. Conrad. More…

The Wall Street Journal: On July 13, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) sent a letter to the Ethics Committee listing 30 senators’ loans from Countrywide Financial Corp. “Sens. Christopher Dodd (D., Conn.) and Kent Conrad (D., N.D.), have previously been identified among the high-profile individuals who received such loans. Both senators have denied wrongdoing. Until the Issa letter, no other senators or their staff members had been linked to the VIP loan program.” More…

July 13: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “Jack Lew also has the highest integrity. He has repeatedly proven himself to be an outstanding public servant. In this challenging time in our nation’s economic history, Jack is the ideal person to lead OMB.” More…

July 16: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “The new fire station is a much needed improvement to the base’s infrastructure that will allow the airmen serving at the base to better achieve their critical national security missions. Investing in the Grand Forks Air Force Base will help make it an even more obvious choice as a home to the Air Force’s new fleet of air refueling tankers.”More…

Bismarck Tribune: “The attorney general’s opinion says that Conrad can’t be recalled because he’s a federal employee and not a state employee, but the North Dakota Constitution allows you to recall anyone that represents the state,” said Jeffrey Sheets of Sheets Law Firm. Sheets filed the suit in North Dakota’s Supreme Court; Sheets is suing Secretary of State Al Jaeger, who denied their petition to recall Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D. More…

July 20: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “I applaud the actions of the Senate Judiciary Committee today. Our state has been without a U.S. Attorney for far too long. There are cases pending and work that awaits.” More…

July 20: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Senator Conrad said, “If our exporters are to remain competitive, they must be able to rely on the transportation network to get their products to markets, and that network must not unduly penalize those who are in rural areas.” More…

July 20: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “The Durum Wheat Quality Program will help our producers improve the quality of their crops and ensure they don’t lose durum acres to wheat scab. We’re encouraging durum growers across the state that are affected by scab fungicide costs to sign up for this program,” the delegation said. More…

July 20: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “Drug trafficking across the northern border is a real threat to our national security and cannot be ignored. This legislation (The Northern Border Counternarcotics Strategy Act) ensures that it is treated as one of the top drug control priorities for the United States,” Senator Conrad said. More…

Minot Daily News: Rep. Pomeroy and Sen. Conrad held a field hearing Thursday to gather information about funding projects on N.D. Highway 23.”We’re losing loved ones friends, relatives, neighbors. Whatever amount of money we can put into Highway 23 and all of our roads south of New Town, north of New Town, any of the county, any of the township roads, anything if they can save one life it’s worth it,” Dan Uran, mayor of New Town told Sen. Conrad. More…

POLITICO: “Rick Berg for sure,” Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), recruiter for the National Republican Congressional Committee, told POLITICO when pressed about which of his recruits had the most promising future. “He’s just a great candidate.” Berg is vying in a competitive race for seat held by Democratic Rep. Earl Pomeroy since 1992. “As long as we don’t screw up, we have this seat,” a Republican operative working on the race told POLITICO. “And I’m very cautious about saying something like that.” More…

July 9: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “We need to find a solution that will protect lives and property in the Lake Region and in downstream communities like Valley City. We can’t afford to do nothing, and we can’t simply transfer a problem from one community to the other either. That’s why I believe it’s important to get the views of everyone so we can find a solution that will be beneficial to our entire state,” Rep. Pomeroy said. More…

AG Weekly: Scott Hendrickson, Walcott, N.D., president of the North Dakota Soybean Growers Association, says his group praises Peterson and Pomeroy each for being “the right person at the right time” to work on passage of an acceptable farm bill. More…

July 14: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “This program is so exciting because the benefits can be felt by all rural electric cooperative customers. This program reinforces the understanding we have in North Dakota that helping our neighbors helps everybody,” Rep. Pomeroy said. More…

July 15: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “As we consider the future of Social Security and the potential adjustments needed to strengthen the program for the long-term, it is vital that policymakers recognize that Social Security is not just a set of numbers on a ledger,” continued Pomeroy. “Instead, it represents the ability of our seniors to live independently and with dignity during their retirement.” More…

Bismarck Tribune: Rebecca Beitsch: “Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., raised about $330,000 for his re-election bid. He’s raised more than $2 million for the year and has about $1.6 million cash on hand. The report shows that Pomeroy got nearly $75,000 in individual contribution and more than $250,000 in donations from political action committees.” More…

July 16: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “The new fire station is a much needed improvement to the base’s infrastructure that will allow the airmen serving at the base to better achieve their critical national security missions. Investing in the Grand Forks Air Force Base will help make it an even more obvious choice as a home to the Air Force’s new fleet of air refueling tankers.”More…

July 16: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: Imposing new regulations now will do nothing to protect drinking water and will only serve to slowdown development resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs and more imported oil. It is critical that any legislation related to the Gulf oil spill focus on responding to that tragedy and not include additional burdens on hydraulic fracturing,” Rep. Pomeroy said in a letter. More…

July 16: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “Congressman Pomeroy has always been a champion and a true friend of rural water,” said John Bearman, National Director for the North Dakota Rural Water Systems Association. More…

AZ Daily Sun: “Late in the legislative session, simpler is easier,” Pomeroy said in reference to a strategy that would pass the tax credits through the House. Rep. Pomeroy is championing the preservation and advocating for the extension of the renewable energy tax credits used by the ethanol industry. More…

Jamestown Sun: Prairie Public received two grants from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Prairie Public will use a $500,000 grant to build a new transmitter, and will use the $298,796 grant to relocate and rechanneled another transmitter. “These grants will help bring Prairie Public Television into the digital age,” the delegation said in a joint statement. More…

National Journal: Reid Wilson: “Amid a troubled political environment, nearly 2 dozen House Dems (including Rep. Pomeroy) commissioned polls over the last 3 months, according to reports filed with the FEC. But those polls weren’t made public, leaving some GOPers to believe incumbents are beginning to run scared.” More…

July 20: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “The Durum Wheat Quality Program will help our producers improve the quality of their crops and ensure they don’t lose durum acres to wheat scab. We’re encouraging durum growers across the state that are affected by scab fungicide costs to sign up for this program,” the delegation said. More…

July 21: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “To restore the economy, the federal government had to assure the American taxpayer that similar events will not reoccur in the future and that no financial institution is too big to fail. I believe Congress has succeeded by having this crucial piece of legislation signed into law.” More…

July 21: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “I have heard from many of our tribal leaders in North Dakota about the importance of this legislation, and I look forward to the President swiftly signing this important legislation into law,” Pomeroy said. More…

July 22: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “The SRA reduces the deficit by $4 billion dollars and improves the regional equity of the program to the benefit of crop insurance companies providing coverage in North Dakota. This is good for taxpayers and the long term stability of our premier farm safety net program,” Pomeroy said. More…

Bismarck Tribune: “The tea party rose in opposition to something, not in support of something, and if you turn it in support of something, I think it’d fall apart,” said Rob Port, a tea partier and conservative radio host. The tea party has backed the measures to both abolish the property tax and to recall Sen. Kent Conrad. More…

Washington Times: Brian McGraw: “This phenomenon is especially true when politicians can muddle the truth with questionable promises of energy independence and “green” job creation. This claim was made most recently by Sen. Kent Conrad, North Dakota Democrat, and Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Iowa Republican, with their introduction of the GREEN (Grow Renewable Energy From Ethanol Naturally) Jobs Act of 2010.” More…

Washington Post: Lori Montgomery: “In the short term, however, I believe we need more stimulus, unpaid for, because we continue to have weakness . . . But politically, unless things are paid for, it’s going to be hard to get them through,” Sen. Conrad said. More…

Bismarck Tribune: In regards to President Obama’s six-month moratorium on new off-shore drilling, Sen. Conrad said, “Look, off-shore drilling is going to be part of our energy future. It already is part of our energy profile. Clearly it has to be done in way that would avoid this type of disaster.” More…

June 15: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “The American College of Nurse-Midwives applauds Senator Conrad for recognizing that health reform is critical to our nation’s future. He is a true champion for women’s health care,” said American College of Nurse-Housewives President Melissa Avery. More…

June 15: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: Sen. Conrad today introduced the Rural Mobility and Access for America Act – bipartisan legislation that would require a fair distribution of highway funds to rural states. “At a time when North Dakota’s energy potential has never been greater, this legislation will deliver badly needed investments to shore up our transportation infrastructure, ensuring safe roads to help us fuel the nation.”More…

June 17: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: Senator Conrad is an original co-sponsor of the resolution authored by Senator Mike Enzi (R-WY) designating July 24, 2010, as the “National Day of the American Cowboy”. More…

New York Times: The Senators say the energy bill will probably not contain a measure that sets a price on carbon emissions this year. Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) said that the issue of cap and trade “was a long shot this year, given all the other things that are before Congress — the short nature of the session and because of the election.” More…

June 18: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: Senators Conrad (D-N.D.) and Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced legislation to extend tax breaks to strengthen small businesses and help them through the economic recovery. “We want to do everything we can to help strengthen our continuing economic recovery,” Senator Conrad said. “Our legislation would encourage job growth in the commercial real estate and construction industries, both of which have been hit hard by the downturn.” More…

June 18: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “For far too long livestock producers have been up against unfair practices and market barriers,” the delegation said in a joint statement. “We’re very pleased to see that USDA has proposed these rules that will help increase opportunities and reduce unjust practices for producers in North Dakota and around the nation. More…

Bismarck Tribune: Valeria Howard: “I would like to publicly thank our senators, Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad, for standing up for our state’s energy future by not aligning themselves with Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Washington oil lobbyists. To take a stand such as this in the current atmosphere takes courage, and I applaud them for this.” More…

June 23: Kent Conrad–U.S. Senator: Pressroom: “I first selected Dr. Orszag for his previous post as Director of the Congressional Budget Office because of his talent as an economist and because of his expertise in the long-term fiscal challenges facing our nation. I have not been disappointed. His work at CBO and OMB has been tireless and invaluable. I am confident the Administration will find a strong replacement for Director Orszag.” More…

June 10: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “I believe it is so important to our North Dakota seniors that we get rid of this gap in coverage. Now checks are in the mail to help them, and in the next few years we will see the ‘donut hole’ completely phased out.” More…

Bismarck Tribune: “The tea party rose in opposition to something, not in support of something, and if you turn it in support of something, I think it’d fall apart,” said Rob Port, a tea partier and conservative radio host. The tea party has backed the measures to both abolish the property tax and to recall Sen. Kent Conrad. More…

The Hill: The House Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) has requested detailed information on the eight lawmakers in the Ways and Means Committee. The letter seeks wide-ranging fundraising and campaign contribution data from lobbyists about their dealings with the legislators, which includes Rep. Earl Pomeroy. Brenden Timpe, a spokesman for Pomeroy, said, “The facts here show that Earl actually stood up to the big banks and Wall Street interests and voted for reform legislation that they opposed.” More…

Bismarck Tribune: “Our understanding is the process is confidential, and questions need to be directed to the panel,” Pomeroy’s spokesman, Brenden Timpe said in reference the Office of Congressional Ethics panel conducting the review. More…

Bismarck Tribune: Jamey Delaplane, once a legislative assistant for Pomeroy, D-N.D., organized a fundraising breakfast the day before the House’s vote on financial reform. While the Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating Pomeroy, Republicans are criticizing him for not offering the public information on the investigation. “North Dakotans deserve to know why he’s under investigation,” said Republican Party director Adam Jones. More…

National Journal: Richard E. Cohen: Rick Berg, who is the GOP nominee for the House seat in North Dakota, responded to questions from the National Journal. “North Dakota people have seen that [Rep.] Earl Pomeroy has spent 18 years in Washington. And we are seeing huge debt, expansion of government, and a stalled economy. Somebody has to be held accountable.” More…

June 16: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “It is my hope that he abandons that proposal and pulls back the EPA in its efforts to unilaterally regulate greenhouse gas emissions. That will ensure North Dakota can take full potential of our coal, oil, wind and biomass energy resources.” More…

The Hill: Democrats are hoping to pass the tax extender measure by July 4. According to Rep. Pomeroy, passing the measure simply to meet the deadline will heat up an already fiery battle within the Party. “I think at this point each chamber is frustrated with the other chamber, and within each chamber there’s plenty of frustration,” Rep. Pomeroy told The Hill. “This has been harder than it should have been.” More…

June 18: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “For far too long livestock producers have been up against unfair practices and market barriers,” the delegation said in a joint statement. “We’re very pleased to see that USDA has proposed these rules that will help increase opportunities and reduce unjust practices for producers in North Dakota and around the nation. More…

Rasmussen Reports: Berg continues to hold a moderate lead over incumbent Rep. Pomeroy. According to a recent poll, Berg earned 51% of the support of likely voters leaving Rep. Pomeroy with 44%. Since February, Rep. Pomeroy has earned 40% to 45%. Any incumbent who earns less than 50% at this stage of the race is considered potentially vulnerable. More…

June 22: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: Rep. Pomeroy is calling for an end to unlawful debt collection practices that target seniors and other Social Security beneficiaries by freezing their bank accounts. “I understand that debt collectors have an important job to do to make sure people make good on their obligations. But we have to draw a line at Social Security benefits,” Pomeroy said. More…

June 23: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: “I first met General Petraeus on my first trip to Iraq seven years ago. I deeply respect his leadership talent and his views, and I believe that he is a perfect choice to take over as commander in Afghanistan.” More…

June 24: Earl Pomeroy–U.S. Rep.: Newsroom: The EPA and the Energy Department announced they would once again delay its decision on the Clean Air Act waiver application to allow blending of up to 15 percent ethanol in gasoline. In response, Pomeroy (D-N.D.) and Herseth Sandlin (D-S.D) said Thursday that federal agencies needs to “lead, follow, or get out of the way” in the push to expand use of ethanol in American vehicles. More…

June 24: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson:Today the Senate passed the Tribal Law and Order Act, legislation which aims to reducecrime on reservations. “This has been a long time coming, and I am pleased to have helped pass this bill,” said Johnson. More…

Argus Leader: Jon Walker: Sen. Johnson was the only member of South Dakota’s congressional delegation to support the complex health care legislation. Now, South Dakota business owners are struggling to support the bill in its entirety. “There isn’t a business we’ve spoken with that didn’t say we needed to do something,” said Shawn Lyons, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers Association.”The frustrating thing we hear is more along the lines of, ‘This is it?’” More…

June 25: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: South Dakota will receive the funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and the grant comes from the Department of Labor’s On-the-Job Training National Emergency Grants Program. “I am pleased these funds will promote projects that meet those needs here in South Dakota,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

Argus Leader: During a South Dakota Salute to the Troops event, Honor Flight veterans and their families reunited at a picnic. Sen. Johnson attended the event and shared his appreciation of the Honor Flight veterans’ service. More…

Argus Leader: During a tour of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water project, Sen. Johnson, D-S.D.; Sen. Klobuchar, D-Minn.; and Troy Larson, Lewis & Clark executive director, said funding for the incomplete water project is drying up. “Funding will continue, but it is going to be a problem getting $35 million a year,” Johnson said. More…

June 28: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: South Dakota will receive the funds from the federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) Program. “Over the years, our state has benefited greatly from the PILT program and I know that today’s funding will help us continue to make quality infrastructure investments,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

Rapid City Journal: Sen. Dorgan said 60 senators, including Sen. Johnson, plan to renew the Special Diabetes Program for Native Americans. “We made some strides in improving health in Indian Country earlier this year with the passage of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act as part of comprehensive health care reform, but there is still a lot of work to do,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

June 30: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: The Senate Energy Committee has passed the Outer Continental Shelf Reform Act, legislation which will restructure the Minerals Management Service. “I’m pleased that the Energy Committee is taking concrete steps to strengthen regulations for the safety and performance of offshore oil and gas exploration. This legislation will put an end to the mismanagement within the Department of Interior and make much-needed reforms,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

June 30: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: Honeybee producers will receive over $6 million of national disaster assistance from the USDA Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP). “Honeybee producers play a vital role in our state’s agriculture sector and I will continue to work in the Senate to discover the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder and ensure that the producers are able to stay in business,” Johnson said. More…

June 30: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: The Sioux Falls Regional Airport Authority will receive a federal grant around $3 million from the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airport Improvement Program. “Our state’s ability to connect nationwide depends on these funds, and I’m pleased that this funding will be used to improve runway safety at Joe Foss Field,” Johnson said. More…

July 1: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: The University of South Dakota and Dakota Wesleyan University will receive federal grants from the Department of Health and Human Services Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students Program. The funding comes from annual federal appropriations with additional money coming from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. “All South Dakotans deserve to have access to quality health care, and this funding will help ensure that they do. Thanks to the stimulus these amounts are nearly double the regular appropriations for these important programs,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

Rapid City Journal Kevin Woster: Sen. Johnson’s bill, the Tony Dean Cheyenne River Valley Conservation Act of 2010, was discussed by concerned ranchers. “We want more assurance of our individual allotments being protected. We were promised that, but we never saw it in this bill,” said rancher John Rittberger. More…

July 6: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “This legislation is an important and long-overdue measure that will help to safeguard the long-term stability of our economy. The kind of free-wheeling, self-regulating, anything-goes environment that we had before the crisis is simply not an option,” Johnson said. More…

AP: “I think that those who oppose this bill should answer the charges that they are pro-Wall Street, pro-deregulation when that has proven to be a vast mistake and anti-consumer,” Johnson said. “They are protecting the big banks and they should answer for that.” More…

Cook Political Report: June 24: “Dems Larry Kissell, Earl Pomeroy, Paul Kanjorsksi, and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin have all seen their reelection chances continue to dwindle before their very eyes. Three of them are now locked in “toss up” races while Herseth Sandlin has gone from “lean” to “likely D” status (the Rothenberg Political Report has moved her from “likely” to “toss up/tilt Dem”).” More…

CQ Politics: Anna Palmer: “Perhaps the one thing we do know for sure is that Herseth Sandlin faces what looks to be her toughest challenge yet, and for that reason CQ Politics is changing the rating of the race from Likely Democratic to Leans Democratic.” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Tom Erickson said, “Kristi Noem is everything that Stephanie Herseth claims to be but isn’t. There’s a lot of anger at Washington over the national debt and spending and Stephanie Herseth has been a part of that.”More…

Mitt Romney’s Free and Strong America PAC: Press Room: June 30: “Far too many of our elected officials have forgotten that service is a key part of public service. A small business owner, and experienced rancher and farmer, Kristi Noem understands South Dakota and its values, and will restore its voice to the U.S. House.” Kristi Noem is challenging incumbent Rep. Herseth Sandlin (D). More…

National Journal: Rep. Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) has been ranked second to last place in National Journal’s weekly House rankings. “The Dem has also been on the defensive in recent days for her husband’s (ex-Rep. Max Sandlin) lobbying work. If this theme continues to dominate the campaign, it’ll be a long cycle for Herseth Sandlin.” More…

AP: Jill Bartlett, a businesswoman in South Dakota, will cast a “vote for change” in this year’s Congressional elections. For Bartlett explains that her dissatisfaction with Congressional spending and regulation means that she will not vote for incumbent Herseth Sandlin in the SD-AL race:

“I’m voting change on everything I’m voting for because I’m so unhappy with what is happening,” Bartlett said. More…

June 28: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: The U.S. Supreme Court said, in McDonald v. City of Chicago, that the Second Amendment rights apply to the states. “This ruling provides greater protection for Americans’ Constitutional right to bear arms. Unfortunately, some don’t understand that hunting and outdoors activities are a key part of our way of life in South Dakota. This decision will help ensure that our Second Amendment rights are protected,” Herseth Sandlin said. More…

Yankton Press & Record: B. Thomas Marking is running as an independent candidate against Kristi Noem for the U.S. House seat currently held by Rep. Herseth Sandlin “If it comes down to credentials and fresh ideas, I have got it won on both counts,” he said. More…

June 30: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: Rep. Herseth Sandlin introduced the Consumer Fuels Choice Act of 2010. “By providing grants for the installation of blender pumps we can begin to cut down on the prices Americans are paying at the pump, and bring us one step closer to energy independence,” Herseth Sandlin said of the need for the legislation. More…

June 30: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: “Local economies, infrastructure and community life are continually put to the test with these floods and federal resources can provide important assistance to get communities back on their feet,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. “I look forward to working with FEMA and FHA on the development of long-term flood mitigation plans.” More…

Argus Leader: Jonathan Ellis: “There’s nothing unusual about spouses and other family members soliciting money or campaigning for their politician family member. But the Max Sandlin letter was perplexing to some because of its timing and tone. Why have him sign the letter?” More…

Reid Wilson: “The NRCC is spotlighting 16 new top recruits it hopes will make up an increasingly large freshman class in the 112th Congress. State Rep. Kristi Noem (R), running against incumbent Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D), is one of the sixteen new Young Guns. More…

Roll Call: Steven T. Dennis: “Blue Dogs…are grateful that we finally have not only some wind at our backs in terms of public sentiment, but we have colleagues in our Caucus and Republicans who are now expressing the same amount of concern about the debt and deficits that we’ve been expressing for a number of years, regardless of who has been in the White House and who has been in control.” More…

Think Progress: Ryan Yglesias: “Roll Call has an extremely flattering profile of Blue Dog Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD), in which she is portrayed as a thorn in the side of Nancy Pelosi, bravely defending the nation from increased deficits.” “When the media frames this as about deficits without noting that Blue Dogs routinely support measures that increase deficits when it suits them, it does a grave disservice to our discourse.” More…

Blog Spot: “This (Kristi Noem) is the Lady which these 50 American states need as thee voice in the House to change that House back into the People’s House.
While the glamour goes to Sean Hannity and Mark Levin in the fine GOP Senators running, there must be just as much attention paid to Kristi Noem as she is about to retire the biggest fraud (Stephanie Herseth Sandlin) since Tom Daschle in the Congress.” More…

June 30: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: Rep. Herseth Sandlin today voted in favor of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. “Importantly, this bill will protect taxpayers by helping to ensure they aren’t the ones on the hook when someone on Wall Street makes a bad choice, or takes too large a risk,” Herseth Sandlin said. More…

Charlotte Business Journal: Several Democrats, including Rep. Herseth Sandlin, have introduced The Main Street Fairness Act; legislation that would tax internet sales. Consequently, the ACLU and Amazon.com are objecting the measure after the North Carolina Department of Revenue requested Amazon.com to release customer sales information for online sales tax purposes . Katy Parker, legal director for the ACLU of North Carolina Legal Foundation said, “We had hoped the department would narrow the scope of its requests in order to protect privacy rights, and we are surprised and disappointed that it has become necessary for us to take legal action in order to safeguard consumers’ rights.” More…

June 30: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: The legislation Rep. Herseth Sandlin introduced would designate a Rapid City courthouse the “Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse.” Speaking of Judge Bogue, the Congresswoman said, “His life was marked by service to others and dedication to upholding the law and preserving justice.”More…

Christian Newswire: The Susan B. Anthony List, a national pro-life political action committee, has recently announced its endorsement of Kristi Noem. Noem is challenging incumbent Rep. Herseth Sandlin (SD-AL), who has been endorsed by EMILY’S List, a pro-choice political action committee. The Susan B. Anthony List Candidate Fund President Marjorie Dannenfelser spoke of the SAB endorsed candidates. “America is embracing authentic feminism – one which returns to its suffragist, pro-life roots. These women are the brightest stars of a populist, pro-woman, pro-life grassroots movement that is determined to return the strength of femininity to feminism.” More…

July 13: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “This grant will provide commercial space for businesses in the community and make more affordable rental housing available for Martin residents,” said Johnson. More…

July 13: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “I am pleased that the Rural Learning Center will receive this funding to provide needed assistance to local businesses and bring investments to the community,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

July 14: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “This bill will boost the economy by replacing imported oil with homegrown biofuels and renewable energy. Jobs will be created across the entire economy to produce parts and components for wind farms and by manufacturing vehicles that can run on higher blends of renewable fuels. It’s a win for energy security and economic security,” said Johnson. More…

July 14: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “Even though federal dollars are hard to come by, I will not let this subcommittee’s mission of providing quality health care and improved infrastructure fall behind. This bill balances the needs of our veterans and our military while addressing the needs of rural America,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

July 14: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “I am pleased that Black Hills State University will receive funding to help plan for the new business incubator. This grant will help bring public and private sectors together in order to help create and retain jobs,” Sen. Johnson said. More…

July 15: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “Prevention is both cheaper and more effective than treating an illness when it strikes, which is why we included these provisions in the health care reform legislation to make these services more accessible.” More…

Rapid City Journal: Staffers said the senator is leaning toward a “yes” vote on the Kagan nomination. But he won’t announce his intentions until after he meets with her and probably not until the committee finishes its work on the nomination. More…

July 15: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “While I will hold my final decision until the Judiciary Committee completes their work, it is clear Elena Kagan has what it takes to serve on the high Court and I am leaning toward supporting her nomination,” Sen. Johnson said on a Youtube video. More…

July 15: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “Agriculture is the lifeblood of our state’s economy, and we can’t let politics get in the way of funding the largest industry in South Dakota,” said Johnson. More…

July 16: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “I will continue to support efforts to discover the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder and ensure that honeybee producers continue to play a vital role in our state’s agriculture sector.” More…

July 19: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “Many hearing-impaired individuals are disadvantaged by inadequate or non-existent access to broadband and this funding will help bridge that digital and information divide.” More…

July 21: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “I was honored to take part in the historic moment this morning, and I look forward to continuing my conversations with South Dakotans as we work to implement this legislation. It will not be an easy task, and it is certainly possible that there will be aspects of this bill that need to be changed, but it is a necessary step to bring common sense back into focus.” More…

July 22: Pressroom: U.S. Senator Tim Johnson: “These types of infrastructure and equipment improvements help the Rapid City Regional Airport accommodate growth and better serve the people and local economies of the Black Hills.” More…

Dakota Voice: Bob Ellis: July 12: “Does taxpayer-funded abortion reflect South Dakota values? Is environmental extremism a South Dakota value? Is forcing South Dakotans to accept homosexual behavior, cross-dressing and other sexual deviancies a South Dakota value? Is forcing South Dakota businesses to pay their workers for not working a South Dakota value? Is keeping workers under the thumb of union thugs a South Dakota value? Is unconstitutional socialized health care a South Dakota value?” More…

July 13: Op-Eds: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: This legislation is a critically important part of a nearly two-year response to a financial crisis that shook our economy to the core. South Dakota families and businesses have so much at stake in how we respond to the financial crisis, and that’s why I have consistently voted in line with our state’s priorities. More…

Town Hall: Brian Walsh: “Although to the good people of the Mount Rushmore State she boasts herself as a fiscally-responsible Democrat, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s record in Washington is anything but. She proudly supported the $787 billion failed stimulus package, voted for the most fiscally irresponsible budget in history, and voted to sell more debt to countries like China by raising the national debt ceiling by a staggering $2.2 trillion – supporting Nancy Pelosi’s liberal agenda 92.1% of the time.” More…

National Journal: Hotline: On Call: Reid Wilson:”Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D-SD) is highlighting her opposition to health care legislation in her campaign’s first ad, becoming the latest Dem to run away from one of her party’s signature legislative achievements.” More…

July 14: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: Today Rep. Herseth Sandlin voted for the Improper Payments Elimination and Recovery Act. “This bill will help save taxpayer money by cracking down on waste, fraud and abuse in government spending. Washington should live by the same rules that South Dakota families do – and that means honest, accurate and transparent accounting for taxpayer dollars,” Rep. Herseth Sandlin said. More…

July 15: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: “This bill is critical because South Dakotans didn’t cause the near-collapse of the economy but we sure paid a price for it. I am pleased the bill has passed the last hurdle and will now go to the President for his signature, because it is imperative we do more to protect thousands of South Dakota families and small businesses.” More…

July 15: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: “This targeted investment will help ensure more families of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate can raise their children in safe and adequate housing.” More…

New York Times: Jeff Zeleny: “Several of the decisions signal new signs of worry from Democratic Party leaders, including Representatives Stephanie Herseth Sandlin of South Dakota, Betty Sutton of Ohio, Allen Boyd of Florida, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Gerry E. Connolly of Virginia and Jerry McNerney of California.” More…

AP: “Ad strategies show the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee reserving time in media markets represented by incumbents who are top Republican targets…Democrats have set aside almost a half million dollars for ads to help Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin remain South Dakota’s sole representative in the House during the final two weeks before the election. More…

July 19: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: “This grant will help CSD provide training and broadband support, which in turn will help enhance educational and employment opportunities for the deaf and hard of hearing in South Dakota and across the country,” said Herseth Sandlin. More…

July 21: Press Releases: U.S. Rep. Herseth Sandlin: “I introduced this bipartisan bill because of the urgent need to improve law enforcement in Indian Country. Native American families, like all families, deserve a basic sense of safety and security in their communities. I’m proud to pass the Tribal Law and Order Act through the House and send it to the President for his signature.” More…

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